The Simon Wiesenthal Center’s Director for International Relations, Dr.Shimon Samuels, expressed solidarity with Sammy Ghozlan, President of the Bureau National contre l’Antisemitisme (BNVCA, French National Bureau Against Antisemitism).

Former Police Inspector, Ghozlan’s car was parked in his home garage and burned in the early hours of the morning last week in what police have termed “a criminal act of voluntary arson”.

Samuels noted, “The Simon Wiesenthal Centre had supported the BNVCA, establishment by Ghozlan following the spike in antisemitic violence across France related to the 2000 outbreak of the Second intifada.”

He added, “The BNVCA was born at a time that the authorities, law enforcement, media and even the Jewish community were in denial regarding the new antisemitism emanating from the Middle East – though the number of incidents was growing daily.”

“The attack on Ghozlan’s car cannot be considered personal. It is a warning to the Jews of France and to other victims of hate crimes. The Wiesenthal Centre, on behalf of its French associate – the BNVCA – calls upon the Government to announce a zero tolerance policy for incitement and to take preventive measures” concluded Samuels.

For further information contact Shimon Samuels on 0033(0)609770158

The Simon Wiesenthal Center is one of the largest international Jewish human rights organizations with over 400,000 member families in the United States. It is an NGO at international agencies including the United Nations, UNESCO, the OSCE, the OAS, the Council of Europe and the Latin American Parliament (Parlatino).